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Thailand Declares State Of Emergency Amid Protests

Officials said they arrested 22 people, including several top leaders of the student-led protest movement.

Thailand Declares State Of Emergency Amid Protests
Wason Wanichakorn / AP
SMS

Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency amid ongoing anti-government protests. 

Riot police moved to clear out demonstrators shortly after the announcement. 

Officials said they arrested 22 people, including several top leaders of the student-led protest movement. 

Protesters are calling for new elections and democratic reforms to the constitutional monarchy. The monarchy, though, is widely considered a pillar of Thai society and criticism of it is a punishable offense. 

The emergency decree comes one day after demonstrators heckled a royal motorcade.